Culture Insider: New Year vacation in ancient China

Minguo era:

A New Year painting depicts the scene of a female learning from a private school teacher during the Mingguo era. [Photo/IC]

At the early Minguo era (which began with the downfall of the Qing dynasty in 1912 and ended with the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949), all government agencies had to work as usual during the lunar new year. If someone was found absent during the New Year's Eve, he would get fired.

The Nationalist Government in Nanjing stipulated a rule to implement the new calendar and abolish the lunar calendar in 1929. Then there was no Spring Festival holiday during Minguo era.

To strictly carry through the regulation, the government would strictly punish people who violated it.

Though the government attempted to forbid people to celebrate the lunar new year, people still did so as usual. And during the new year of the new calendar, only government organs gave new year greetings to each other.

Until the beginning of 1934, considering public opinion, the government had to announce that "Regarding the celebration of the lunar new year, except for government departments, the folk custom shall not be interfered with too much." Then people could celebrate the Spring Festival above board again.